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Upon the appointment of Professor Michael Tuomey, in 1847, to the professorship of Geology in the University of Alabama, it was made a part of his duty to spend such portions of his time, not exceeding four months in each year, in exploring the state in connection with his proper department, as the Trustees might consider for the advantage of the state. Professor Tuomey, in accordance with these instructions, began immediately his explorations, and thus the first systematic examination of the geology of Alabama was instituted. Such extracts from his reports to the Trustees upon this work as were considered of general interest, were published from time to time in the newspapers of the city of Tuscaloosa, and in January, 1848, the state legislature made recognition of this effort by appointing Professor Tuomey State Geologist, and requesting him to lay before them the results of his explorations, to be published by the state. Thus was begun the first geological survey of Alabama. From 1848 to 1853 Professor Tuomey continued these explorations at the expense of the University of Alabama, the state having made no appropriation for the purpose, and in 1849 he presented to the legislature his first biennial report, which was published in 1850 by the state. The geological map was not ready, however, for distribution with the report, and appeared separately. When we consider the great number of observations recorded in this volume, and the accuracy with which the limits of the various geological formations were laid down upon the map, after only two years' exploration, in a state about whose geology almost nothing was previously known, we cannot fail to recognize the genius of the man.

In 1854 the legislature passed a law appropriating $10,000 for the support of the Geological Survey, and an additional sum